The Ukrainian president rejected Moscow’s demands to withdraw troops from recovered areas as “unacceptable,” but said he is willing to meet elsewhere to “start diplomacy.”
KYIV, Ukraine — President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine opened the door to a new round of peace negotiations on Tuesday, but insisted he would not accept conditions imposed by Moscow and flatly rejected Russia or Belarus as potential venues for any talks.
The statement comes amid a grinding military stalemate and growing international interest in forcing a ceasefire in the war, now in its fourth year.
“We are ready to talk, but not to surrender,” Mr. Zelensky said in comments released by his office. “We can meet anywhere, except in Russia and less in Belarus.”
Moscow has demanded that Kyiv withdraw its troops from territories it has recaptured and formally recognize Russian annexations in the country’s east and south, terms Mr. Zelensky labeled “unacceptable.”
Mr. Zelensky confirmed that Ukrainian and European officials are set to meet this week to define the details of a potential ceasefire plan. “It is not a plan to end the war, but to start diplomacy,” he clarified, emphasizing that any halt in hostilities would be only a first step toward “serious negotiation.”
He also insisted that Ukraine would need solid financial and military guarantees from its allies for “at least two or three more years” to avoid a frozen conflict that merely solidifies Russian gains.
In a direct appeal to Beijing, the Ukrainian leader added, “We would very much like China to put pressure on Russia to end this war and not contribute in any way to its continuation.
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